After Spike had finished calming Twilight down and they had figured how to walk in these new and strange bodies after seeing one of the other creatures, they walked up to what looked like a castle.
After another smaller freakout after realising she doesn’t have her magic, they finally made it into the building. Twilight looked over at a glass case full of what looked like large chalices and other weird looking things, wondering if these were Equestrian artifacts that somehow ended up here.
She then saw her reflection in the glass. “What am I?” She wondered.
They then heard a bell ring out, and the hall they were in was suddenly full of the same strange creatures. Some of them seemed to be in a hurry while others were just walking and talking. Twilight and Spike were tripped over, and they managed to crawl out of the crowd. They kept crawling until she hidden something. Looking up, she saw one of the creatures stretch out one of their claw-like appendages, which she took, allow them to pull her up.
“Whoa. You Okay?” They asked in a male voice. Okay, she thought, this one is a male. She watched as he walked into the crowd after confirming that she was okay.
“I don’t think this is a castle.” Spike commented, before they started walking and exploring the building, Twilight occasionally tripping over her new feet.
“I’ve never seen a place
That’s quite like this
Everything is turned around
This crazy world is upside-down
Getting on my feet
It’s the hand that I was dealt
But I don’t have much time with them
Got to learn all that I can”
As they explored, they watched the creatures do all sorts of things, from talking with each other and going to what looked like classrooms, which led to the conclusion that this was a school.
“They don’t use any magic or fly with any wings
I don’t get these funny clothes, skinny legs or tiny nose
Everything’s confusing when it seems so new
But I look a little closer and it starts to feel familiar too”
As they watched the weird creatures, they couldn’t help but noticed some of them looked like some the ponies from back home, like DJPON3 and the CMCs.
“What a strange new world (what a strange new world)
I’m trying to make heads or tails of this strange new world (what a strange new world)
Sorting through the small details of this strange new world
What a strange new world”
As they walked around a corner, they saw a girl with curly brown hair standing in what looked like a threatening position over another girl with light pink hair that looked familiar.
“Oh, I’m really sorry,” The pink haired girl said in a calm and gentle voice. “I only saw Vice Principal Luna pick it up and take it up to the principal’s office. That’s all I know.”
“Lair!” The brown-haired girl exclaimed. “You’re probably in on whatever scheme is going on here, by keeping me from my crown.”
“But…” the pink haired girl countered. “It doesn’t really belong to you, does it?”
“Excuse me?!” the curly-haired girl exclaimed, slamming a fist against the locker near the other girl’s head. “It does belong to me. Do you know who I am?”
“Um, not really,” the shy looking girl said.
“Wow,” the curly haired one laughed. “You weirdoes are pathetic and stupid. Not knowing who I am.”
As Twilight was about to speak up, a voice came from the other end of the hall. “Hey! How dare you speak to her that way!” They all turned to see a girl with rainbow hair glaring at the brown-haired girl.
“What did you say?” the other girl’s blue eyes narrowed at her.
“I said ‘How dare you speal to her that way!’” the rainbow headed girl replied. “Who are you, walking into this school acting like you owned the place.”
“Whatever,” the blue-eyed girl turned her nose up. “I may be new here, but I’m Stormy CloudSwirl and I can speak to anyone any way I want.”
“Stormy CloudSwirl,” Twilight said, realising who the curly haired girl was.
“Um, no you can’t,” The pink hair one said.
“Yea,” the rainbow haired girl nodded. “Around here, we don’t tolerate bullies, at all. No matter who they are.”
“Hmm, we’ll see,” Stormy said turning and stomping away.
“What a piece of work,” the rainbow headed girl muttered to herself, before turning to the pink haired girl. “You alright, Flutters?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Flutters waved her away. “Thanks for helping me, Dashie.”
“No problem, as if I was going to let her bully one of my best friends,” Dashie said before turning to Twilight. “Oh, hey, another newbie. You sounded like you knew that Stormy girl. Do you?”
“Sort of…” Twilight answered.
“We’ve never seen either of you before,” Flutters commented. “Did you both transfer to Canterlot High from another school?”
“Um…yes!” Twilight replied, laughing nervously. “Another…heh, school! My name’s Twilight.”
“Nice to meet you Twilight,” Dashie said. “I’m Rainbow Dash and this here is Fluttershy.”
“Hi,” Fluttershy waved shyly.
“Sorry. What was that?” Twilight was confused, she was not sure she heard right. “It sounded like you said… but how can that…?”
Before Twilight could say anything else, Fluttershy had spotted Spike, and her face lit up, before running over for a closer look, almost tripping over Twilight. “Oh, my goodness! Who’s this sweet little guy?”
“That’s Spike! My, uh… dog!” Twilight answered as Rainbow steady her.
“Oh, he’s so cute!” Fluttershy said, before taking a dog treat out of her bag and offering it to Spike. “Go on, eat up, little pup!” Spike took a small bite and was amazed at the taste, before eating the rest of the treat. “Oh, wouldn’t ya just give anything to know what they’re really thinking?” Fluttershy wondered.
“Only you would wonder that Flutters,” Rainbow smirked fondly at her, making her blush.
“He usually just tells me.” Twilight said without thinking before seeing Spike gesturing to be quiet and then barks, clueing Twilight into what he was trying to say.
“Oh, w-what do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh, uh, nothing!” Twilight chuckled nervously again. “Never mind. Stormy CloudSwirl said you saw somepo-one pick something up. Something that belonged to her. It wasn’t a crown, was it?”
“How did you know?” Rainbow asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
“Uh, lucky guess?” Twilight shrugged, before asking. “Do you know where it is?” Fluttershy nodded. “What happened to it?”
“Well, after giving out fliers for Canterlot’s animal shelter,” Fluttershy explained. “I saw Vice Principal Luna picking it up and taking it into the school.”
“And I saw her give it to Principal Celestia, as I was walking pass her office,” Rainbow continued.
“Principal Celestia? Vice-Principal Luna?” Twilight asked, unfamiliar with the titles. “Are they the rulers here?”
Fluttershy and Rainbow gave each other a look before Fluttershy turn to Twilight to answer. “I guess you could say that. Technically, they do make the rules.”
“Where are they now?” Twilight asked.
“Probably in Principal Celestia’s office,” Rainbow replied with a shrug before pointing down the hall. “Third door on your left.”
“Thank you!” Twilight exclaimed before moving quickly down the hall.
“Oh, wait!” Fluttershy shouted after her, causing Twilight to stop in her tracks. “You’re not really supposed to have pets on school grounds.” Ignoring Rainbow’s muttering ‘doesn’t stop you, Flutters’. “Might wanna tuck him into your backpack. That’s what I do.” Fluttershy smiled as she opened her backpack to show a few small animals inside. “They just get so lonely when I’m in school all day.”
“Oh, okay! Thank you!” Twilight said, putting Spike in her backpack as she walked towards the corner as the school bell rang.
“Oh, shoot!” Rainbow exclaimed before taking Fluttershy’s hand. “We’re going to be late for class!”
As they turned a corner, they slowed down and looked at each other. “So, those are the two pony people from the portal?”
“That Twilight one seems nice, if a little confused about our world,” Fluttershy commented.
“She sure does,” Rainbow agreed. “Though, that Stormy CloudSwirl chick was horrible.”
“She was,” Fluttershy nodded.
“Though,” Rainbow raised an eyebrow at her. “Why didn’t you stand up for yourself? We all know you can.”
“Oh,” Fluttershy blushed. “I didn’t want to scare my animal friends.”
“Oh, Fluttershy,” Rainbow rolled her eyes fondly. “Please, don’t ever change.”
After an awkward talk with Principal Celestia and deciding to sign up for Princess of the Fall Formal and getting more information from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash about how to run for the title, Twilight was confident she will get the votes she needed.
“If you need some ideas,” Fluttershy suggested as they ate lunch. “You can talk to two of our friends who have won the crown before”
“Yea,” Rainbow agreed, as she drank her water. “Rarity and Sunset would totally have plenty of ideas for ya.”
“Thanks,” Twilight smiled before her eyes widen when she recalled one of the names. “Wait, Sunset? As in Sunset Shimmer?”
Rainbow and Fluttershy looked at each other before looking back at her. “You’ve heard of Sunset?” Fluttershy asked.
“Sort of,” Twilight shrugged after Spike wacked her over the head for her slip up.
“Well,” Rainbow explained. “Sunset Shimmer goes by Sunset King now.”
“Oh, ok,” Twilight put that piece of information away to analyse later. “So, where would I find the head of the Fall Formal planning committee?”
“Hmm,” Rainbow rubbed her chin, then looked over at Fluttershy. “Hey, Flutters, do we have any classes straight after lunch.”
“No,” Fluttershy shook her head looking at her schedule. “We just have study time.”
“Well, in that case,” Rainbow said smiling at Twilight. “We can introduce you to planning committee head right now if you like.”
“That would be great,” Twilight smiled back.
After finishing lunch, the two students guided Twilight to the school auditorium. They occasionally pointed out some of the classes, though not mentioning any of the magic classes. Soon they reached their destination.
“Well,” Rainbow said as she opened the double door. “She should be in here.”
“Incoming!” They heard before they were all covered in streamers. The owner of the voice, a girl with curly pink hair, jumped down from the stage, and started walked towards them while blowing by a balloon.
“Hi, my name’s Twilight Sparkle and…” Twilight started introducing herself, before she got a closer look at the other girl. “Pinkie Pie?”
Pinkie almost chocked on her balloon, then she got very close to Twilight and looked her in the eye, and asked, “Are you psychic?!”
“Uh, oh.” Twilight stammered, trying to think. “I don’t think so. Unless of course that’s something you can do here.”
“Hmm,” Pinkie thought for a second. “Not usually.”
“Um,” Twilight looked over at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash and remembered why she was here. “Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash said this is where I’d find the head of the Fall Formal planning committee.”
“That’s me!” Pinkie gave her a giant smile before taking a clipboard from her hair. It seems the Pinkie of this world was the same as her Pinkie, very hard to understand. “Waited a bit to get your name on the ballot, huh? Dance is tomorrow night, you know.”
“I’m brand new here,” Twilight said.
“Oohh! I thought you didn’t look familiar,” Pinkie was now going through her hair again, looking for a pen. Once she found the pen, she looked at Twilight again, and wondered. “Though, now that I’m really lookin’ at you… Do you have a twin sister who lives in the city, has a pet dog named Spike that looks just like that one?”
“Uh, maybe?” Twilight gave her a nervous smile.
“Thought so,” Pinkie said. Before she could give Twilight the clipboard, a voice was heard from the stage.
“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight looked over to see a girl with purple hair, looking at Pinkie Pie with a raised eyebrow and hands on hips. “What did I say about simply throwing the streamers? Just look at this mess.”
“Sorry, Rarity,” Pinkie apologised sheepishly.
“C’mon, Rares,” Rainbow rolled her eyes at the fashionista. “You should know by now how Pinkie can get when it comes to parties.”
“Yes, yes, I know,” Rarity pinched the edge of her nose. She then spotted Twilight. “Oh my. You must be one of the new girls. It’s a pleasure to meet you, darling. I’m Rarity Belle.” She held out her hand.
“Oh, I’m Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight greeted, placing her hand in Rarity’s, having seen the creatures of world use this gesture when they had been exploring.
“Anyhoo,” Pinkie got their attention again, as she passed the clipboard and pen to Twilight. “Just need to fill this out and you are officially up for the coveted Princess of the Fall Formal crown.”
“Oh, you’re signing up for the Princess of the Fall Formal?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched Twilight hold the pen in her mouth for a second before using her hand to sign up.
“Yes, I am,” Twilight answered, giving the clipboard back to Pinkie.
“Wow!” Pinkie exclaimed seeing the squiggles on the form. “You have really bad handwriting. It’s like you’ve never held a pen before.”
“Is it?” Twilight laughed nervously. She was saved from anymore awkward questions by a country accent.
“Somebody order a dozen cases of non-alcoholic, fizzy apple cider?” A blonde freckled girl with a country hat came walking in followed by an equally freckled boy with orange hair, both carrying crates filled with bottles.
“Oh! Oh!” Pinkie waved her hands jumping up and down, hopping over to them. “Me, me-me-me, me, yeah, ha-ha, me!”
“Can you bring in the rest?” The blonde girl asked the boy, as she gave a bottle to Pinkie.
“Eeyup,” He nodded before walking out to get the rest.
“Hey, Applejack!” Rainbow called over to her. “Come meet one of the new kids.”
“Hey, I know you,” Applejack said as she got closer, passing bottles to Fluttershy, Rainbow and Rarity as she went.
“You’re the one who gave that other new girl, Stormy CloudSwirl the what for, this morin’.”
“Twilight Sparkle here is gonna run for this year’s Princess of the Fall Formal.” Pinkie said, already on her second bottle of cider.
“Whoa, nelly,” Applejack looked impressed. “Goin’ for Princess first week here, that’s bold. I can respect that.”
“Um, thanks,” Twilight shrugged, unsure how to respond to that.
Then she looked over when she heard talking from the doors. A girl and boy came walking through the entrance carrying boxes full of what looked like decorations. The girl had red hair with blonde and green eyes while the boy had black hair with three red streaks through it and, was that a burn scar on his face?
“Hey, Pinkie, where do you want these?” The girl asked, nodding to the boxes in their hands.
“Just over by the stage, Sunny,” Pinkie answered. They place the boxes where she pointed, and then joined the rest of the group where Applejack passed them a bottle of cider.
“Oh, this is one of the new girls, Twilight Sparkle,” Fluttershy introduced. Twilight waved at them shyly.
“G-day, Twilight,” Sunny greeted, waving to herself and the boy next to her. “I’m Sunset King, and this is my boyfriend Zuko Lord.”
“Hi,” Twilight said before remembering something. “Wait… Sunset King?”
“Oh, you’ve heard of me?” Sunset asked raising an eyebrow at her.
“Well, sort of,” Twilight was becoming nervous. “Rainbow said your name used to be Sunset Shimmer.”
“Yes, it was,” Sunset was wondering where this was going.
“Um, just a little question,” Twilight was fidgeting. “Does the word ‘Equestria’ mean anything to you?”
“Equestria?” Sunset thought for a moment, before rubbing her forehead, looking in pain. “It sounds familiar, but I just can’t remember how.”
“Sunset darling,” Rarity scolded. “Remember what your doctor said. Don’t force the memories. Let them come on their own.”
“‘Don’t force the memories.’ What does that mean?” Twilight was confused.
“Oh, right, you’re new here,” Zuko said rubbing the back of his head. “You wouldn’t know.”
“Know what?” Twilight was curious now.
“Well, you see,” Fluttershy explained. “When she first got here, Sunset was in a terrible accident. She hit her head so hard, that she lost almost all her memories.”
“That’s terrible,” Twilight felt sorry for the girl and watched as Zuko comforted her. She was glad that she had good friends to help. “I’m sorry if what I asked caused a problem.”
“It’s ok, not the first time,” Sunset smiled at her, before taking a book and pen out of her bag and flipping to a page, where Twilight could just see a list on it. “Anyway, we really need to finish getting this place set up. Let’s go through the list.” They all started checking off the list.
“By the way, Sunset,” Applejack turned to the red head. “Is everything ready for tonight.”
“Yep,” Sunset nodded, placing her book back in her bag. “Everything is all ready for a night of fun.”
“What’s happening tonight?” Twilight asked, wondering what they were talking about.
“It’s just a little tradition we started years ago,” Rarity explained, as she gave Spike a scratch behind the ear, who was enjoying the attention from her. “Every time there’s a big event on, like a talent show or the Fall Formal, we all sleep over at one of our houses.”
“Really?” Twilight kinda liked the sound of that.
“Totally,” Rainbow answered. “And this time it’s at Sunset’s house.”
“Sounds like fun,” Twilight said, smiled at them.
“Well,” Zuko said, kissing Sunset’s cheek, causing her to giggle a little, before picking up the posters. “I should get to putting these posters up. I’ll see you later?”
“Yea,” Sunset agreed, before looking at the time on her phone. “Oh! I should get going too. I’ve got study time, and that English essay isn’t going to write itself.” She turned to Twilight. “Oh, and again, nice meeting you Twilight, and if you need any tips on the whole Fall Formal Princess thing, I’m happy to help.”
“Thanks,” Twilight watched her leave, ‘So that’s Sunset Shimmer,’ she thought. ‘She’s not what I expected.’
10 minutes later, as Sunset was setting up her homework in the library, she received texts from her friends on their Rainbooms group chat.
Just meet Stormy CloudSwirl. She also signed up for Fall Formal Princess and started going on and on about how everything about the party not being up to her standards. She was really big meanie about it. 😠
Don’t worry, Pinks. It’s seems the crown must belong to Twilight. We’ll just have to help Twilight win instead of Stormy.
Hey guys. I just had an awesome idea. Why don’t we invite Twilight to the sleepover, see if she gives away any clues to the world beyond the portal or about that crown.
That sounds like a good idea, Dashie. I’ll talk to mum about it and see what she says. Though, I think she’ll say yes.
Sounds good, darling.
I’ll bring extra snacks.
There was a round of agreements and suggestions, before they all left the group chat, and Sunset got back to writing an essay. ‘If mum says yes, then tonight’s sleepover is going to be interesting.’